USING TECHNOLOGIES THAT STUDENTS ARE COMFORTABLE WITH TO IMPROVE INTERACTIVITY IN ONLINE LEARNING

The rapid move to online teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated that universities and schools were unprepared for large-scale online teaching. Poor internet capabilities and lack of interactive online opportunities meant that lectures and laboratory practicals were replaced with videos and online assignments, decreasing student interaction and hands-on learning opportunities. In this seminar, I discuss how we used technologies that students already use in their daily lives (YouTube Live, Twitch, Discord, Mobile devices) to engage them in authentic experiential online learning where students felt part of a community of learners. In our university classes, lecture attendance grew from 13% for face-to-face lectures to 59% in online lectures. We also saw a 10-fold increase in online interactivity during live online lectures. We saw similar results for our science outreach with primary and high school students using Arludo apps—video games designed to teach scientific concepts through scenario-based experiences. All students stated this form of teaching helped them feel like part of a scientific community. Our combination of a social online learning management system with a real-time chat interface and mobile games to engage in scientific thinking and data collection provides an inexpensive and exciting way forward to teach online

Effective measurement: Improving the measurement of science communication effectiveness

Robustly measuring the effectiveness of science communication and using the evidence to inform practice should be viewed as a basic necessity to enable science communication to live up to its potential. However, key challenges in the science communication field contribute to a lack of quality evidence. First, impact evaluation is generally neglected. Second, there is a general lack of evaluation quality and rigour due to a lack of practitioner training and expertise to design, execute and analyse evaluations. Third, evaluation methodologies are highly diverse, producing varied, incomparable findings. Fourth, analysis methodologies are dominated by ‘traditional’ content and statistical analysis that may limit evaluation insights. Could standardising aspects of science communication evaluation help produce a body of quality, comparable evidence? Could less ‘traditional’ analytical approaches reveal different insights on science communication impacts? This thesis robustly measures the impacts of science communication activities in two studies. In parallel, by applying equivalent measures and analytical approaches in a comparable way to different types of science communication activities and audiences, the thesis examines the potential of standardised evaluation tools and analytical innovation. The two studies of this thesis employ the same pre and post survey instrument to different samples (audiences and activity types) and apply both traditional (statistical analysis of scores and qualitative content analysis) and less traditional analysis (computerised quantitative textual analysis) to the qualitative survey data. While the quantitative analysis of scores detected no pre-post change, the qualitative content analysis and computerised quantitative textual analysis in both studies provide insights into what and how (respectively) participants think about science. The findings from the two studies not only contribute quality empirical evidence of the impacts of various science communication activities, but they also demonstrate and assess the relative merits and practical implications of standardised evaluation tools and various analytical approaches for science communication

The Effect of Structured Exercise Compared with Education on Neuropathic Signs and Symptoms in People at Risk of Neuropathic Diabetic Foot Ulcers: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Background and Objectives: Lifestyle interventions such as exercise prescription and education may play a role in the management of peripheral neuropathy in people with diabetes. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of undertaking an exercise program in comparison with an education program on the signs and symptoms of peripheral neuropathy in people with diabetes at risk of neuropathic foot ulceration. Materials and Methods: Twenty-four adult participants with diabetes and peripheral neuropathy were enrolled in this parallel-group, assessor blinded, randomised clinical trial. Participants were randomly allocated to one of two 8-week lifestyle interventions, exercise or education. The primary outcome measures were the two-part Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument (MNSI) and vibratory perception threshold (VPT). Secondary outcome measures included aerobic fitness, balance and lower limb muscular endurance. Results: Participants in both lifestyle interventions significantly improved over time for MNSI clinical signs (MD: −1.04, 95% CI: −1.68 to −0.40), MNSI symptoms (MD: −1.11, 95% CI: −1.89 to −0.33) and VPT (MD: −4.22, 95% CI: −8.04 to −0.40). Although the interaction effects did not reach significance, changes in values from pre to post intervention favoured exercise in comparison to control for MNSI clinical signs (MD −0.42, 95% CI −1.72 to 0.90), MNSI clinical symptoms (MD −0.38, 95% CI −1.96 to 1.2) and VPT (MD −4.22, 95% CI −12.09 to 3.65). Conclusions: Eight weeks of exercise training or lifestyle education can improve neuropathic signs and symptoms in people with diabetes and peripheral neuropathy. These findings support a role for lifestyle interventions in the management of peripheral neuropathy

ENIGMA-anxiety working group : Rationale for and organization of large-scale neuroimaging studies of anxiety disorders

Altres ajuts: Anxiety Disorders Research Network European College of Neuropsychopharmacology; Claude Leon Postdoctoral Fellowship; Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation, 44541416-TRR58); EU7th Frame Work Marie Curie Actions International Staff Exchange Scheme grant 'European and South African Research Network in Anxiety Disorders' (EUSARNAD); Geestkracht programme of the Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development (ZonMw, 10-000-1002); Intramural Research Training Award (IRTA) program within the National Institute of Mental Health under the Intramural Research Program (NIMH-IRP, MH002781); National Institute of Mental Health under the Intramural Research Program (NIMH-IRP, ZIA-MH-002782); SA Medical Research Council; U.S. National Institutes of Health grants (P01 AG026572, P01 AG055367, P41 EB015922, R01 AG060610, R56 AG058854, RF1 AG051710, U54 EB020403).Anxiety disorders are highly prevalent and disabling but seem particularly tractable to investigation with translational neuroscience methodologies. Neuroimaging has informed our understanding of the neurobiology of anxiety disorders, but research has been limited by small sample sizes and low statistical power, as well as heterogenous imaging methodology. The ENIGMA-Anxiety Working Group has brought together researchers from around the world, in a harmonized and coordinated effort to address these challenges and generate more robust and reproducible findings. This paper elaborates on the concepts and methods informing the work of the working group to date, and describes the initial approach of the four subgroups studying generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and specific phobia. At present, the ENIGMA-Anxiety database contains information about more than 100 unique samples, from 16 countries and 59 institutes. Future directions include examining additional imaging modalities, integrating imaging and genetic data, and collaborating with other ENIGMA working groups. The ENIGMA consortium creates synergy at the intersection of global mental health and clinical neuroscience, and the ENIGMA-Anxiety Working Group extends the promise of this approach to neuroimaging research on anxiety disorders

Finishing the euchromatic sequence of the human genome

The sequence of the human genome encodes the genetic instructions for human physiology, as well as rich information about human evolution. In 2001, the International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium reported a draft sequence of the euchromatic portion of the human genome. Since then, the international collaboration has worked to convert this draft into a genome sequence with high accuracy and nearly complete coverage. Here, we report the result of this finishing process. The current genome sequence (Build 35) contains 2.85 billion nucleotides interrupted by only 341 gaps. It covers ∼99% of the euchromatic genome and is accurate to an error rate of ∼1 event per 100,000 bases. Many of the remaining euchromatic gaps are associated with segmental duplications and will require focused work with new methods. The near-complete sequence, the first for a vertebrate, greatly improves the precision of biological analyses of the human genome including studies of gene number, birth and death. Notably, the human enome seems to encode only 20,000-25,000 protein-coding genes. The genome sequence reported here should serve as a firm foundation for biomedical research in the decades ahead

Visibility of St Lawrence belugas to aerial photography, estimated by direct observation

The depleted population of belugas (Delphinapterus leucas) inhabiting the St Lawrence estuary, Canada, was monitored by periodic photographic aerial surveys. In order to correct counts made on aerial survey film and to obtain an estimate of the true size of the population, the diving behaviour and the visibility from the air of these animals was studied. A Secchi-disk turbidity survey in the belugas’ summer range showed that water clarity varied between 1.5 m and 11.6 m. By studying aerial photographs of sheet-plastic models of belugas that had been sunk to different depths below the surface, we found that models of white adults could be seen down to about the same depth as a Secchi disk, but no deeper. Smaller models of dark-grey juveniles could only be seen down to about 50% of Secchi-disk depth. By observing groups of belugas from a hovering helicopter and recording their disappearances and re-appearances, it was found that they were visible for 44.3% of the time, and that an appropriate correction for single photographs would be to multiply the photographic count by about 222% (SE 20%). For surveys in which there was overlap between adjacent frames, the estimated correction would be 209% (SE 16%). This correction factor was slightly conservative and gave an estimate of the true size of the population, based on a single survey, of 1,202 belugas (SE 189) in 1997. An estimate for 1997 based on smoothing 5 surveys 1988–1997 was 1,238 (SE 119)

Evaluating the cross-disciplinary utility of anonymizing applications for scientific equipment in the Australian research sector

Anonymizing applications for competitive research resources has been demonstrated to reduce bias against women, early career researchers and other marginalized researchers, specifically for applications to use scientific equipment in the planetary and space science research sector. We conducted a nationwide trial in Australia to evaluate the cross-disciplinary impacts of anonymizing applications for use of scientific equipment. The twofold purpose of the study was to observe the degree and existence of disparities, and to evaluate how anonymizing applications would impact application scores, success rates and resource allocation, based on the gender and career seniority of the lead researcher. The trial involved applications to four Australian research entities that manage access to national scientific facilities. The entities implemented anonymization differently. Entity-specific modelling was carried out, followed by a meta-analysis to assess overall effects. Our evaluation reveals a noteworthy absence of gender and career seniority disparities in application outcomes before the implementation of anonymization measures across most entities. The introduction of anonymization led to improved success rates for early-career researchers, while generally maintaining the existing gender equity landscape, with one entity experiencing improved success rates for women-led applications. The implications of this result extend beyond funding outcomes, which represent only one piece of the puzzle contributing to inequity in STEM research. By enhancing success rates for early career researchers, anonymization may create a positive ripple effect in the career pipeline, diversifying the research pool, and supporting the broader issue of retaining and advancing researchers facing barriers in STEM research. Future research examining cultural, racial, and other biases will be key to refining equity efforts in the STEM research sector

Evaluating the cross-disciplinary utility of anonymizing applications for scientific equipment in the Australian research sector

Anonymizing applications for competitive research resources has been demonstrated to reduce bias against women, early career researchers and other marginalized researchers, specifically for applications to use scientific equipment in the planetary and space science research sector. We conducted a nationwide trial in Australia to evaluate the cross-disciplinary impacts of anonymizing applications for use of scientific equipment. The twofold purpose of the study was to observe the degree and existence of disparities and to evaluate how anonymizing applications would impact application scores, success rates and resource allocation, based on the gender and career seniority of the lead researcher. The trial involved applications to four Australian research entities that manage access to national scientific facilities. The entities implemented anonymization differently. Entity-specific modelling was carried out, followed by a meta-analysis to assess overall effects. Our evaluation reveals a noteworthy absence of gender and career seniority disparities in application outcomes before the implementation of anonymization measures across most entities. The introduction of anonymization led to improved success rates for early-career researchers, while generally maintaining the existing gender equity landscape, with one entity experiencing improved success rates for women-led applications. The implications of this result extend beyond funding outcomes, which represent only one piece of the puzzle contributing to inequity in STEM research. By enhancing success rates for early career researchers, anonymization may create a positive ripple effect in the career pipeline, diversifying the research pool, and supporting the broader issue of retaining and advancing researchers facing barriers in STEM research. Future research examining cultural, racial, and other biases will be key to refining equity efforts in the STEM research sector

Analysis of Awarded Australian Grants by Gender

Examining temporal trends in the award of research grants in Australia by the Australian Research Council (ARC) and the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) according to awardee gender

Research Brief: Grant Leadership is Key to Gender Equity

We modelled patterns of collaboration, team gender composition, and funding amounts across awarded Australian government-funded competitive team research grants from 2000–2020. Among mid- and senior-career researchers, the percentage of grants awarded to women was higher for team grants than sole investigator grants compared to men at those levels. Teams led by women tended to have a greater percentage of women co-investigators than teams led by men, but this was below gender parity regardless of team leader gender. These patterns persisted across all levels of the team leader's career seniority. Funding amounts per grant did not differ by principal investigator gender and reached parity in 2020 across teams with both low and high representation of women, marking a shift from historical trends whereby teams with mostly women received less funding per grant than those with mostly men. Since teams tend to be more gender-balanced when led by women, women’s grant leadership may be an important mechanism for shifting the overall representation of women in research. We offer public policy measures to address gender equities in the research sector